MC5 and Protools 8HD multi mic tracks

[antonis]

Hey all

• The video editor of a project I did the production sound for sync'ed all my production tracks (boom and radio mics) to the rushes. I've seen the MC5 sequence and everything looks fine. I double checked as well and the alt mics are logged in the MC5.
• While cutting the editor used the boom track.
• He exported a couple of different AAFs to me and in none of the I could match the radio mics using the match track function.
• In none of the two AAF exports did I get the alt mics in the sound files folder (I've been receiving the AAF separate from the audio tracks).

So:

Would anyone know if there is a specific export option, from MC5 to Protools 8HD that would allow me to match the radio mics?

Thanks!

[Chief Technician]

Are you trying to use the boom track in the AAF to relink to the radio mics that are not in the AAF? Have you read the sections in the Reference Guide on Matching Alternate Clips or Replace Clip operations?

[antonis]

Originally Posted by Chief Technician

Are you trying to use the boom track in the AAF to relink to the radio mics that are not in the AAF?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Chief Technician

Have you read the sections in the Reference Guide on Matching Alternate Clips or Replace Clip operations?

Yes. I have and also I have read the Field Recorder Workflows Guide V8.0

I am pasting a section from the latter which says:

"Alternate Source Audio in Bin Auto-Synced to Ed- ited Production Sound Mix The alternate source audio residing in the Avid Bin has been auto- synced to the edited production sound mix re- siding in the Avid Timeline.
When you import this type of sequence into Pro Tools, the edited video and edited produc- tion sound mix are available to import directly into the Timeline. The alternate source audio does not appear as separate tracks in the Import Session Data dialog, but will import directly into the Region List.
When exporting the edited production sound mix as a sequence, the Avid editor should make sure to also select all of the alternate source au- dio in the Bin.

When you import this type of sequence into Pro Tools, the edited video, edited production sound mix, and all alternate source audio will be available to import directly into the Timeline."

What am I missing here?

[Chief Technician]

Originally Posted by antonis

Field Recorder Workflows Guide V8.0

I am pasting a section from the latter which says:

"Alternate Source Audio in Bin Auto-Synced to Edited Production Sound Mix

The alternate source audio residing in the Avid Bin has been auto-synced to the edited production sound mix residing in the Avid Timeline.

When you import this type of sequence into Pro Tools, the edited video and edited production sound mix are available to import directly into the Timeline. The alternate source audio does not appear as separate tracks in the Import Session Data dialog, but will import directly into the Region List.
When exporting the edited production sound mix as a sequence, the Avid editor should make sure to also select all of the alternate source audio in the Bin.

When you import this type of sequence into Pro Tools, the edited video, edited production sound mix, and all alternate source audio will be available to import directly into the Timeline."

What am I missing here?

Did the Avid editor have the Alternate Source Audio in the Bin? When the Avid editor created the AAF, did the Avid editor make sure to also select all of the alternate source audio in the Bin?

[antonis]

I was around the process and the bin contained all the video rushes that had ALL the mic tracks sync'ed.

In other words the

"Alternate Source Audio"

was sync'ed in the highlighted video tracks.

But I think that the individual files themselves were not.

Is that it you reckon?

[Chief Technician]

Originally Posted by antonis

Is that it you reckon?

It could be. If the alternate source audio was not on any audio track in the Avid sequence, then the best you can expect from an AAF is for the alternate source audio to appear in the Region List. You would still have to spot it to your timeline (hopefully via timestamp).

Have the Avid editor sync the alternate source audio on audio tracks, create an AAF, and see what happens when you import that AAF into Pro Tools.

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by antonis

Hey all

• The video editor of a project I did the production sound for sync'ed all my production tracks (boom and radio mics) to the rushes. I've seen the MC5 sequence and everything looks fine. I double checked as well and the alt mics are logged in the MC5.
• While cutting the editor used the boom track.
• He exported a couple of different AAFs to me and in none of the I could match the radio mics using the match track function.
• In none of the two AAF exports did I get the alt mics in the sound files folder (I've been receiving the AAF separate from the audio tracks).

So:

Would anyone know if there is a specific export option, from MC5 to Protools 8HD that would allow me to match the radio mics?

Thanks!

Have you set the "areas to search" correctly in PT? If yes what did you use as the match criteria and where did you point PT to under "areas to search"? Did you use a referenced AAF? If not, ask for one.

Frank.

[antonis]

Originally Posted by Frank Kruse

Have you set the "areas to search" correctly in PT? If yes what did you use as the match criteria and where did you point PT to under "areas to search"?

Hey Frank,

Cheers for the input. As per initial postWell, I cross checked with the editor's files and none of the alternate source audio tracks made it to my Audio Files folder.

I can't remember the match criteria now but just take my word for it. Alt source not in the Audio files folder and subsequently not in the regions list.

Originally Posted by Frank Kruse

Did you use a referenced AAF? If not, ask for one.

Simply, this is what I am asking for here; Just in case I need to explain myself, would you know how to make referenced AAF, Frank?

[Frank Kruse]

Originally Posted by antonis

Hey Frank,

Cheers for the input. As per initial postWell, I cross checked with the editor's files and none of the alternate source audio tracks made it to my Audio Files folder.

I can't remember the match criteria now but just take my word for it. Alt source not in the Audio files folder and subsequently not in the regions list.



Simply, this is what I am asking for here; Just in case I need to explain myself, would you know how to make referenced AAF, Frank?

Not sure I understand what you're saying when you talk about "editor's files". Is that the AVID media or the AAF?

Anyway, regardless what you did. Here's what you should do:

- Get a referenced AAF as in non-embedded. Your editor should know what that means. It's a small AAF just pointing to the original AVID-media. Also select "copy media" so the clips used in your sequence get copied over. You might as well copy the entire AVID audio media for future versions instead of moving media every time you get a new version.

-Keep the AVID media in a dedicated folder. Don't move it to the PT audio files folder.

-Open AAF and re-link to your copy of the AVID media.

-Now turn "field recorder guide" option on for all the AAF tracks.
-PT will ask for "areas to search". Now point PT to ONLY the original BWAVs (not the AVID media).
-Make sure any copy on import options are turned off in the PT prefs.
-Now open the match criteria options and make sure you have "tape to sound roll" checked as per this thread:

http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=333473

All else you can set to your taste. But try only "tape to sound roll" and TC checked.

Now expand to track on just one of the AAF tracks to see if it works.

PT should now find the matching channels in the original BWAVs if your recordist did his job correctly.

If it works. expand the other tracks.

Done. Result is: alt channels layed in from the poly BWAVs without any additional audio created in your audio files folder (unless the AAF contained mixed Fs and PT dumped the converted music and fx in the audio-files folder. but this doesn't matter for the conform)

Now you have to do some clean-up and get rid of all the redundant clips and mix-down channels.

Frank.

[antonis]

Originally Posted by Frank Kruse

Not sure I understand what you're saying when you talk about "editor's files". Is that the AVID media or the AAF?

Yup, apologies about the hasty posting that day, it wasn't that clear. I actually meant, the audio files that came out from the AAF export (they were not embedded).

Originally Posted by Frank Kruse

-Make sure any copy on import options are turned off in the PT prefs.

I will assume that is because the copy will clear out some metadata.

Many thanks for the effort Frank, much appreciated!

My issue still here is that the two AAF exports that I got so far:

• did not include any alt source sound
• the exports I received where referenced,
• the alt sound sources where synced in the rushes but not in the timeline,
• the Avid Media Folder did not include the alt sound sources - to apply any match criteria.
• and the editor is not 100% there with exporting.

Hence, I thought I'd ask around here to see if anyone knew what to do while on MC5 and performing the exports.

I think a way round it (before I do get the editor to sync the cut with all mics) is to manually import all the alt sound source files in the bin, highlight them and then go for the AAF export).

But hey, I shouldn't be doing his job and perhaps this question is for a Media Composer Forum and not here!